SAN FRANCISCO—The California State Senate unanimously passed a resolution in support of Taiwan on Aug. 29, celebrating 41 years of California’s sister-state relationship with Taiwan and offering recognition and support for Taiwan’s contributions to the international community.

The measure also commemorates the 26th anniversary of Taiwanese American Heritage Week.

The resolution encourages deeper cooperation between the state and the democratic island in areas such as trade, education, and technology, according to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in San Francisco.

The California Senate passed a similar pro-Taiwan measure in 2024.

This year’s resolution, Senate Resolution 63 (SR 63), was introduced by Democratic state Sen. Jerry McNerney of Stockton, chair of the Senate Committee on Revenue and Taxation, with multiple state senators serving as co-authors.

The resolution recognizes Taiwan’s capacity and willingness to participate in the international community, including through meaningful participation in organizations such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Criminal Police Organization, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

SR 63 highlights that Taiwan and California have long maintained robust exchanges in trade, culture, and technology. It mentions that Taiwan is California’s third-largest trading partner and a major overseas market for California’s agricultural products.

“Taiwan-affiliated companies and exports of United States goods and services support well-paid American jobs, and semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence, green energy, education, and tourism offer further opportunities for collaboration,” the resolution states.

According to San Francisco’s TECO, SR 63 reflects the deepening friendship between California and Taiwan. This year, TECO in San Francisco and TECO in Los Angeles jointly invited several California state senators to visit Taiwan.

This visit is mentioned in the resolution text, which states that the senators traveled to the island in April and observed its “current developments in democracy, economy, and culture.”

“The Senate commends the Taiwanese government for its efforts to strengthen investment in the United States and looks forward to seeing more Taiwanese companies establish operations in California,” SR 63 states.

“The Senate reiterates that Taiwan’s vibrant democracy is vital to the security and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.”

California invited Taiwan to become a sister state in a 1983 resolution. The concept of sister cities or states, in which the two locales formally agree to offer mutual support, was created in 1956 by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The California Senate stated in the 1983 resolution: “The people of Taiwan, like the people of the State of California and the United States, generally, have overcome great adversity and have built a successful, prosperous, free economy. ... The Republic of China [Taiwan] has been one of the most faithful allies of the United States since 1941.”